Isn’t it remarkable how buildings can silently narrate the evolution of a city? This is the Pumpwerk Lichtenrade. Erected in 1928 and 1929, this building stands as a testament to Berlin’s infrastructural advancements.
Back then, this area was sparsely populated. The Pumpwerk Lichtenrade was built amidst undeveloped land north of the Bahnhofstrasse. The Lichtenrader Graben flowed nearby. This ditch drained the fields. It also carried wastewater.
Before Lichtenrade joined Berlin, it lacked proper sewage systems. The Pumpwerk Lichtenrade became essential. It connected to a pressure pipe. This pipe ran from Steglitz to the Klein-Ziethen sewage farms.
The building’s design reflects early 20th-century industrial architecture. Notice the robust brick pillars. Between them, the window sections sit back. Their plastered frames add detail. Elongated windows feature brick dividing panels. These conceal the crane runway inside the Pumpwerk Lichtenrade.
Look up to see the expressive triangular dormers. They punctuate the tiled hipped roof. These details highlight the architectural style of the 1920s. Large windows illuminate a spacious hall. Originally pumps stood here under a coffered ceiling. Half-columns support the crane runway girders. These are placed before every other wall pillar.
The Pumpwerk Lichtenrade ceased operations in 1980. Its historic machinery moved to the Deutsches Technikmuseum. Today, a metalworking shop occupies the building.
Imagine the scene in 2015. The CDU and SPD factions sought ways to revitalize the Pumpwerk Lichtenrade. They wanted to give new life to the building. It had been transferred to the Berliner Immobilienmanagement GmbH BIM in 2015. The goal was to find a meaningful purpose for it. Patrick Liesener, a local CDU representative, expressed hope. He wished for a social organization with a workshop to occupy the Pumpwerk Lichtenrade.
The BIM unfortunately did not actively market it. The marketing stopped at the end of 2019. Christoph Götz-Geene from the SPD also supported this initiative. The district aimed to ensure the building served the common good. Jörn Oltmann, the building councilor, suggested social infrastructure. A workshop for a social organization was considered. The city development and building department would work together with the social department to develop a suitable concept.
Today the Pumpwerk Lichtenrade stands. It is waiting for its next chapter. It’s a reminder of Lichtenrade’s past and its potential future.